Container



Jan. 29, 1935. F. G. Foss v1,989,091

v CONTAINER Filed Aug. 22, 1951 being so formed and disposed relative to they Patented Jan. 29,

vcontainer and to the method of sealing and openv NT OFFICE Y CONTAINER` Fred G. Foss, Hillside, N. J., assignor lto American Can Company, New York, N.

of New Jersey Y., a corporation application [mmf-zz, 1931, semi No. 558,755

Y schim. (C1. 113-120) y"Ilief present invention relates to a metallic ing the'sameandhas for its object generally the provision` of an opening member of .improved .5 construction imbedded in the closure seal and adapted to be tainer. 1'

readily pulled to-openr the vcon- Y Theprincipal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method for producing a retaining and opening band closure for a container in which the band element is sealed in position with a cover, the parts of the closure cover as to permit easy in opening the container.

A particular object of removal of certain parts the invention is the provision of a container closure of the character described in which the retaining and opening band, while'providing a closure element, operates when vremoved from position to unbend portions of the cover so that it is freed from the container body and is then in such reshaped form, as to be easily removable and replaceable as a friction reclosure.

Numerous other robjects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,` discloses a 'preferred embodiment thereof. f

Referring to the drawing:v Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closed container embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is afragmentary front elevation of the upper part of atclosed container ilhxstrating the initial opening-,step and showing the openingv .band partially removed fromits L 3 vis kenlarged sectional .view taken sealing position;

.- through a corner of an assembled container cover andretaining and opening band, the view illustrating the parts Fig. 4 is aview simil the. closed position of `the container prior to closing of the container 3 illustrating andI its cover ar to Fig.

parts, and in addition schematically showing the principal elements. of a closing their `closing positions;

mechanism in and Y Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig.` 3 illustrating the initial; opening; stepfof n partial removalof the tially in the position a co'ntainer by .and the retaining and opening' band, the elements in this view being-substanassumed ifl sectionally viewed along the line 5 5 in Fig. 2.

The present invention is particularly concerned with a retaining and opening band closely associated with a containervbody and its closure cover, the band functioning in a dual capacity, first. of assisting in hol ding the parts in closed 11, having a bottom end 12 secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the usual double seam. The upper end of the body 11 is bent or curled outwardly, downwardly and inwardly in an an- 10 nular curled edge 13 (Fig. 3) which provides a smooth full open mouth for the can.

A cover member 14 is provided for closing the mouth of the can, the cover preferably having a vertical wall 15 adapted to frictionally engage 15 withinthe end of the body. This wall 15 merges into a curved wall 16 enclosing an annular groove 17. 'Ihe wall 16 beyond its curved section is further extended as a projecting flange 18. A suitable sealing or gasket material 19 is preferably 20 disposed in the groove 17 (Fig. 3) and by its use an hermetic seal may be obtained for the container.

'I'he combined retaining and opening member used with the can body and its cover comprises 25 To eiect closure of the container, the cover .-35"

member 14 and the retaining band l21"are :'lirstf;` brought into assembled position, (illustrated iii?. Fig. 3). Inthis position theupper surface of the curl, 22 of the band engageswith the lower surface of the body curl 13. The cover member 40 14,its center portion inserted in.l the open end of the-body and its: frictional Wall 15 Iengaging -within the mouthf of the same, has its ange 18 overhanging and partiallyA enclosing the body curl 13 and the'band curl 22. In this'position 45 the-gasket 19 rests on top of the body curl 13. A simple curling or bending of the peripheral edge of-the cove:l nange 18 is now performed andthe assembled parts are firmly united thereby sealing the container. This curling operation is vsche- 50- matically illustrated in Fig. 4 and will now be explained.

The assembled can parts are properly positioned in a suitable curling or seaming mechanism. Such a mechanism may comprise in part 55 a backing chuck 31 which is inserted within the usual depression of the cover and which is formed with a backing wall 32 merging into a curved overhanging wall 33. In inserted position the backing wall 32 closely engages and forms a support for the .cover wall 15 and the annular wall 33 of the chuck engages the curved wall 16 of the cover and holds it in assembled position.

Either die, squeezer or roller parts may be used for the cover bending operation and for the present purpose a roller 35 has been selected as forming the active element for cooperating with the chuck. Such a roller preferably has a flange part 36, an annular groove 31 and a conical upper part 38. When the roller 35 is moved inwardly toward the chuck and assembled can parts, its flange 36 engages beneath the lower curl 23 of the band 21 and holds the band in proper position while the overhanging wall 33 of the chuck 31 forms a backing for the cover.

Further inward movement of the roller brings its grooved portion 37 against the peripheral edge of the cover flange 18 and bends it inwardly, under and into close cooperation with the curl 22 of the band. The gasket 19 at such time is closely confined between the surfaces 13, 16 of body and cover. As the seaming roller '35 approaches its innermost position, its conical wall 38 engages the outerwall part 16 of the cover and firmly clamps against this upper part of the cover as the final bending of its lower part takes place.

The upper edge of the chuck is cut away leavinga conical wall 39 which allows clearance for the conical surface 38 of the seaming roller 35. The final closed position is illustrated in Fig. 4, the cover flange periphery now assuming a new form or shape, designated by the numeral 41. In this closed position, the retaining band 21 is tightly held in fixed position with the peripheral cover edge 41 extending partially beneath the band curl.

To effect an opening of the container, itis only necessary to press down on the upper surface of the curled edge 23 of the band, preferably at the abutting ends 24. One end only'of the band is forced downwardly at the start (Figs. 2 and 5) but continued downward pressure is progressively applied throughout the entire length of the band until the entire curled edge 41 of the cover flange is uncurled or partially bent back. An open partially straightened shape 42 (Fig. 5) results. This removal of the band may be done with the fingers or any suitable instrument may be used if preferred.

After the band 21 has been fully removed from cover engagement and the reformed edge 42 is completed the cover may be lifted from the container, the inner diameter of the reshaped cover flange periphery being greater than the outer diameter-of the body edge 13. A reclosure of the container may be had if desired by again positioning the reshaped cover 14 on the open end of the can.

-The curl construction of both body and band parts 13, 22 allows for atighter seal, the natural spring of the metal in the enclosed curls forming a tight spring joint as well as more fully imbedding the body curl 13 in the gasket 19.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope Of the invention or sacricing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. A container comprising a tubular body having an upper projecting edge, a retaining and opening sheet metal band having an enlargement of its upper edge positioned on said body beneath said projecting edge, and a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said body edge and the upper enlarged edge of said band to effect a clamped and removable closure for.l

said container.

2. A container comprising a tubular body having an upper projecting edge, aeretaining and opening sheet metal band positioned on said body beneath said projecting edge, and a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said body edge and the upper edge of said band to effect a closure for said container, said band being formed with an enlargement beneath its engagement with said cover flange for easy bend-"- ing out of the cover flange and release of the? cover.

3. A container comprising a tubular body having an upper curled edge, a retaining and opening band positioned on said body beneath said curled edge, and a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said curled body edge and the upper edge of said band to effect a closure for said container, said band being wider than said flange and also adapted upon removal from its enclosed position to outwardly bend said cover flange to permit removal of said cover vmember from said body.

4. A container comprising a tubular bodghaving an upper curled edge, a retaining and opening band positioned on said body beneath said curled edge, a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said curled body edge and the upper edge of said band to effect a closure for said container, said band having an enlarged upper edge and being wider than said flange, and a sealing gasket interposed between vsaid body and said cover member.

5. A container comprising a tubular body having an upper curled edge, a retaining and opening band positioned on said body beneath said curled edge and having upper and lower curled edges, and a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said curled body edge and the upper curled edge of said band to effect a closure for said container, the lower curled edge of said band extending below said cover flange and providing a shoulder for engagement in, removal of said band to outwardly bend said covngange and release said 'cover member in opening said container.

6. A container comprising a tubular body having an outwardly extending open curled edge, a retaining and opening band positioned on said body beneath said curled edge and having an outwardly extending curled upper edge and an outwardly extending lower edge,a`nd a cover member having a flange partially enclosing said curled body edge and the upper edge o!- said band and leaving the lower edge of said band projecting below and spaced fromv said cover flange to effect a closure for said container, and to provide an engaging shoulder for said band so that it may be pushed downwardly to free its upper curled edge and to unbend said cover flange and open said container.

'7. A container comprising a tubular body havtaining and opening sheet metal band positioned on said body beneath said curled edge with its ends abutting said band being formed with curled upper and lower edges and being wider than the cover ilange, and a cover member having a ilange partially enclosing said curled body and the upper edge oi said band with the lower edge of' said band extending below and spaced from said cover flange, the curled edge o! said cover flange cooperating with said body and band to effect a closure for said container and the extending lower edge of said band permitting downward movement thereof ilrst adjacent its split end and thence progressively along its entire length to unbend said cover ilange and open the container.

8. The method of forming an easy open container which comprises providing a container body with an outwardly projecting upper edge, curling the edges of a sheet metal retaining and opening band and assembling said band on said body beneath its projecting upper edge so that an outwardly projecting upper edge of engages said body edge, thanthecoveriiangetobecurled thereovenand the band being wider iiauge assembling a .flanged cover member in the upper open end of said body and curling its iiange into tight engagement with the projecting edge of said body and with the upper edge of said band to eiiect a closure between said body and said cover member.

9. The method ot forming an easy open containerv which comprises providing a container body with an outwardly projecting upper edge, assembling a retaining and opening band; having outwardly projecting upper and lower edges, on said body beneath its projecting upper edge so that its outwardly projecting upper edge engages said body edge, said band being wider than the cover ilange to be formed thereover, and assembling a iianged cover member in the upper open end ot said body and curling its ilange into tight engagement with the projecting edge of said body and withthe upper edge oi' said band while forcing' said band in close engagement with said body edge by upward pressure against the lower edge o! laid band, and leaving the lower edge of the band exposed below the curled cover PRED 6.1'088. 

